Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

close, but no cigar

/ˈkloʊs bʌt noʊ sɪˈɡɑɹ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.56 in modern English

Syllables: close, but no ci-gar
IPA: /ˈkloʊs bʌt noʊ sɪˈɡɑɹ/

22

Scrabble Score

15

Letters

2

Syllables

13

Unique Chars

Meaning

phrase

Used to indicate that one is almost correct or has almost succeeded, but not quite.

Colloquial

Example Sentences

"Betty ran all out in the sprint race; yet, it was close, but no cigar."
"The long distance trophy [for alumni who had traveled the furthest to attend the reunion], an appropriately inscribed silver cigarette case, was awarded to Em Gooch who had made the trip from Lincoln, Neb. for the occasion. Several other members came close, but no cigar, and we trust that all those in New York and Philadelphia who failed to show up, without reason, will read these lines with a quiver."

Etymology

From the practice of giving cigars as prizes at carnivals in the United States in the 20th century; those who did not win would fail to receive a cigar, even if they came close.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈkloʊs bʌt noʊ sɪˈɡɑɹ/
British English: /ˈkləʊs bʌt nəʊ sɪˈɡɑː/

Usage

Colloquial

Inflected Forms

close but no cigar (alternative)

Phrases

no cigar

Frequently Paired Words

no cigar

Synonyms

almost doesn't count a miss is as good as a mile

Questions

How do you pronounce close, but no cigar?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkloʊs bʌt noʊ sɪˈɡɑɹ/.
What does close, but no cigar mean?: Used to indicate that one is almost correct or has almost succeeded, but not quite.
Where does close, but no cigar come from?: From the practice of giving cigars as prizes at carnivals in the United States in the 20th century; those who did not win would fail to receive a cigar, even if they came close.

How to pronounce close, but no cigar

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